LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeCommercial CodeDiv. 2Ch. 3§ 2323 Shipping Contract Bill Requirements

§ 2323 Shipping Contract Bill Requirements

Commercial Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 2323 Shipping Contract Bill Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •If you sell something that needs to be shipped overseas, you must give the buyer a special paper (bill of lading) that proves the stuff is on the ship.
  • •If the special paper comes in multiple copies, the buyer can ask for all of them unless they’re coming from another country—then just one copy is enough.
  • •Even if the buyer asks for all copies, if they’re coming from far away, you can give just one copy and promise to cover any problems if the buyer agrees.

Example

You buy a bunch of toys from a seller in another country, and they’re supposed to be shipped on a big boat.

The seller has to give you a paper that shows the toys are actually on the boat. If that paper has 3 copies, you can ask for all 3 unless they’re being sent from far away—then just 1 copy is okay. Even if you ask for all 3, the seller can give you just 1 and promise to fix any issues if you’re okay with it.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 2323 Shipping Contract Bill Requirements

(1) Where the contract contemplates overseas shipment and contains a term C.I.F. or C. & F. or F.O.B. vessel, the seller unless otherwise agreed must obtain a negotiable bill of lading stating that the goods have been loaded on board or, in the case of a term C.I.F. or C. & F., received for shipment. (2) Where in a case within subdivision (1) a tangible bill of lading has been issued in a set of parts, unless otherwise agreed if the documents are not to be sent from abroad the buyer may demand tender of the full set; otherwise only one part of the bill of lading need be tendered. Even if the agreement expressly requires a full set (a) Due tender of a single part is acceptable within the provisions of this division on cure of improper delivery (subdivision (1) of Section 2508); and (b) Even though the full set is demanded, if the documents are sent from abroad the person tendering an incomplete set may nevertheless require payment upon furnishing an indemnity which the buyer in good faith deems adequate. (3) A shipment by water or by air or a contract contemplating such shipment is “overseas” insofar as by usage of trade or agreement it is subject to the commercial, financing or shipping practices characteristic of international deepwater commerce. (Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 254, Sec. 36. Effective January 1, 2007.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

C.I.F.C. & F.F.O.B. vesselnegotiable bill of lading

Related Statutes

  • § 2320 Cif And Cf Shipping Terms
  • § 2321 Cif Contract Price Adjustment
  • § 10301 Lease Contract Enforcement
  • § 10302 Lease Title And Possession
  • § 10303 Lease Transfer Restrictions

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Commercial Code. Section 2323.
View Official Source